It feels like forever since we learned that Paul George does, in fact, want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the near future. Whispers that he was L.A.-bound were gradually growing louder and louder before Aaron Mintz delivered the hard truth to the Indiana Pacers two weeks ago -- George isn’t going to re-sign.

The Lakers and Pacers entered into a staring contest leading up to last Thursday’s draft that ultimately resulted in a stalemate. The Pacers showed restraint in wanting more than Julius Randle and two very late first-round picks, placing importance on patience. The Lakers, meanwhile, refused to entertain moving the No. 2 pick, which predictably became Lonzo Ball, in a deal for George because they can presumably sign him without giving up assets in a year’s time.

The chances of trading for George pre-draft were also minimized when they traded D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez’s expiring contract and the draft rights to Kyle Kuzma.

While the move makes a measure of sense for the Lakers, clearing the way for Ball and creating cap space, it does all hinge on them assembling the type of contender they foresee in 2018. If they roll out Ball, George, Brandon Ingram and LeBron James, we’ll soon award Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka executive of the year honors in 2019.

Here’s the problem: Everyone in the NBA is looking to do the same thing -- accumulate enough stars to have even a modicum of a chance at dethroning the Golden State Warriors.

Having one superstar isn’t enough and, in most cases, neither are two. That’s why the Lakers can’t simply wait for one to come to them. It would be easier to lure LeBron, or even DeMarcus Cousins, if George is already in hand. It would also eliminate the risk of the Pacers trading George elsewhere for a season in which he's again competing for a title.

George is labeled as a rental for any team except the Lakers, but no team willing to give up anything worthwhile will rule out a long-term deal. Indiana, however, is desperate to get as much back as possible which could lead them to allow George and Mintz to negotiate a potential contract extension with an interested team to facilitate a trade. 

This is where things get perilous for the Lakers. In fact, they may have already missed their chance to bring George to L.A. at all.

The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets have more alluring rosters and a better chance at winning in the short-term. The Celtics unquestionably have the assets to acquire George -- the Cavaliers have LeBron and Kyrie Irving (assuming Kevin Love would be headed somewhere in a George deal), and the Rockets have James Harden and now Chris Paul.

The Lakers? They have Ball, Ingram and Randle, who remain malleable NBA prospects. George has a penchant for L.A., but he’s also said that he wants to win. Without the guarantee of another legitimate, seasoned star on the Lakers’ roster when free agency opens next July, have Magic and Pelinka risked too much in waiting?

How could a player go to Boston, Cleveland or Houston and then leave a year later to play for a lottery team?

Constructing a trade for George before another club can trade for him won’t be easy for the Lakers. If they are unable to build a package centered around Randle and assets from a third team to send to the Pacers, they’ll have to consider making Ingram available in a deal. 

With the Rockets restocking while the Cavaliers and Celtics perhaps bid against one another for George, the Lakers have no choice but to use what assets that remain to ensure they have at the very least a core of Ball and George heading into next offseason and beyond. 

If they can’t figure out how to make a trade for George, they’ll risk him going into another team’s locker room, liking what he sees and changing his long-term plans. If they do make the Pacers an increased offer for George, the young talent around him will be diminished significantly, especially with the Lakers’ 2018 first round pick headed to either Philadelphia or Boston.

Last week, George was all but a Laker. Now, he may be anything but.